Mavericks' surprise starter is emerging as clear answer to glaring hole

The Dallas Mavericks are having a rough stretch in February that seemingly never ends. It all started with the organization trading their franchise player, Luka Doncic, for Anthony Davis and Max Christie. This trade shocked the NBA world and fans struggled to make sense of the trade.

Along with the trade, Dallas' injury bug just keeps getting worse. The team lost newcomer Anthony Davis for multiple weeks after he suffered a left adductor strain in his first appearance with the squad. This hurt the team's dual-threat approach, as Davis was expected to make an immediate impact with Kyrie Irving.

The team's frontcourt suffered another setback last week when Daniel Gafford went down with a Grade 3 MCL sprain. He is expected to be out for at least six weeks, as this further weakens the Mavs' center position with Dereck Lively II and Dwight Powell already out. Gafford's injury came at the wrong time, as he was having one of his best seasons. His dominance helped keep the team afloat, as he played a pivotal role down low.

Dallas is also without wings P.J. Washington and Caleb Martin with injuries, and they truly can't catch a break.

Kessler Edwards is stepping up to fill Dallas' frontcourt void

However, even with injuries and the trade, the Mavs remain relevant in the Western Conference. The team recently won four of their past five games and was on a two-game winning streak before the All-Star break. They currently sit one game behind the Minnesota Timberwolves for seventh place and two games behind the LA Clippers for sixth.

One reason for their recent success has been two-way player Kessler Edwards. He has been a major spark this month. Edwards has showcased his ability to play multiple positions and become a reliable option when called upon. During February, he is averaging 5.1 points and 4.3 rebounds per game in 22.6 minutes per game.

Dallas is 5-1 whenever Edwards is in the starting lineup. He averages 5.8 points per game and 4.5 rebounds as a starter. In his most recent start, Edwards played the center spot for Dallas. He did a superb job scoring 15 points and nine rebounds. Edwards also knocked down three 3-pointers and shot 50 percent overall.

His high energy level didn't go unnoticed, as Coach Jason Kidd spoke about Edwards' performance. Kidd mentioned that Edwards was able to play a position outside of normality.

"His talent level is not a starting center, but he's doing everything we asked of him to play center," Kidd said.

Kidd's comments speak volumes about the type of player Edwards is. He is a defensive asset who can keep track of his opposition and use his quick brain to make the right decisions. Before the Miami game, Edwards had one of his best defensive games. Against the Golden State Warriors, Edwards tallied three blocks and two steals. Edwards' last-minute block against Jimmy Butler helped seal the deal for Dallas.

Edwards spoke about his performance over the past couple of games after the win over Golden State. He mentioned how he was surprised to be playing center, but was eager for the challenge.

"As a two-way player, you can't ask for much more as far as opportunity," Edwards said. "So, I'm just trying to hold it down while the big dogs are out. I'm grateful for the opportunity."

The Mavs signed Edwards to a two-way contract back in July. The move was seen as a guaranteed steal, as he looked like he would be one of the best players on a two-way deal in the NBA. Edwards was a savvy 3-and-D wing who could do a bit of everything. He was expected to switch between the G League and the NBA and be a reliable option whenever Dallas needed him. It's his reliability and patience that have helped the Mavs continue to remain competitive.

The team will need Edwards to keep playing at a high level after the break, as the frontcourt will be thin. If he keeps up his dominant defense and can gain some more confidence on the other end, the Mavs will have no problem moving up in the standings. He will undoubtedly continue to play big minutes due to all of the injuries, and he may be the team's starting center for the foreseeable future.

This isn't to say that he is an ideal starting center in today's league, but all of these minutes under his belt should help get him some confidence before the final stretch of the season and allow him to shift back to his natural position on the wing.